First Round North Dakota Open

               The game hands you nothing but the courage to play and enjoy the process of doing instead of complaining. First round 74 today at Fargo Country Club Bobcat North Dakota Open, a respectable round I might add (scorecard), there were considerable higher scores than average on this tour for the opening round, one reason might be the pace of these fast greens as most player are accustom to firing at pins and firming their putts to the back of the hole. It has been a few month’s since I have played on greens as fast as these the San Juan Open is always a memorable event because the greens are very fast and role true off the face of the putter.

               Fast greens are my favorite to putt on, they enforce urgency to pay close attention to dominant breaks towards the river and factor in other elements in some cases the wind direction causing an overly breaking putt to hold its line; Florida  and southern golf courses instill awareness of grain not so much attention is needed up here.

               This first round with quick analysis of the game played this far into the round I have determined that my mentality of guarding against not being in a certain pressure state of mind; the only way to maintain a flowing mindset is executing a plan of added focus energies on key scoring hole for tomorrow. It was easy to come to this decision as for the round I played today I made four bogeys on three of those easier scoring holes today. My first one came on our front nine, hole number 14, and a shorter par four that call for a position in the fairway to a tucked back right pin location. Bombing driver can and most likely will end up behind the tree on the right side of the fairway closer to an elevated green. Intimidating as the hazard is all along the left side hitting driver is too aggressive when my goal for the day was to gain momentum and make way for key scoring holes.  I hit 3 wood carrying my momentum from the start on ten. No birdies recorded but I had makeable looks at them with nothing but confidence, sometimes in this game the putts just don’t drop when you felt like you did all you can do to make it happen.

               In all honesty that’s how the day went on from the horrendous low hook left 3 wood that came to rest in the hazard. The course was not set up with ridiculous pin placements either, the damage from the flooding early July allow the players to lift clean and place through the green on any of the holes that were affected.

               A few holes later driving into the green side bunker on the short 325 yard par 4 as the fairway doglegs right, the tee shot calls for a very high driver with a fade that will land softer on or before this firm green. As I waited our fellow playing partners where struggling tee to green, one player caught the tops of the tall trees off the tee and ended up in the water, similar result watching his approach from his intended drop and this time the ball landed just beyond the tree line. Player two from the left hand rough landed his approach pin-high only to watch it bounce hard over the green short siding himself to a near impossible up and down for par to this elevated green. Several minutes went by before I could play my bunker shot to make a score of three and walk away feeling like I have something going again. Heartbreaking as the bogey was, I ended up making my thought of trying to hard and feeling tension from trying to control the shorter shots from the bunker and landing the uphill chip short, causing it to not roll out, I needed to play free and search for good rhythm. Committing to this mentality I changed my attitude and filling my mind with positive imagery, not just golf shots either, missing my family when on tour I get to wonder how much fun and all the smiles my children have when they are with mama, I hear my wife’s voice encouraging me to not to limit myself in belief but to know that I have the tools to play well. This past weekend’s title defense in Prince Albert SK has validated my level of confidence for this moment.

               Making the turn, I gladly accept my one over par performance till this point heading into our back nine. Game plan had stayed the same with a couple or errand shots, my mental awareness striving to be free with my swing the positive reinforcement of attitude no longer need adjusting. Josh rolled up the push cart next to my soon to be second shot on hole 3 and said “there is a difference in playing the game with your mind and playing it with your heart!” I acknowledge his expression before I step into my pre-shot routine and those words rung in tune with what I have been trying to accomplish from the start of the round; now I won’t get all mushy and detailed like how the sky is so blue and the birds were signing at that moment. Those words were a positive affirmation to greater achievement.

               Putting , in the past, primarily at the start of each season would be the less free of mechanics and under pressure of total control, in tournament golf this is a bad combination and not just for putting but for any component of the game (drive, approach, short game etc.). To the defense of the putting game the round of golf requires almost 44% of all your strokes regardless of how good (or bad) your score turns out to be. I bring this point up because in my game the putting part has improved immensely as the pressure continues and for this opening round my mentality for putting is poised to executing great putts with chosen reads and feeling pleased assuring myself that I played that shot the way I imagined it would and the result did not match my creative reads in the breaks.

               Today’s round in 29 putts is what my stats showed – 14 putts on the front and 15 putts on the back nine. Three different holes I can remember not being in the right frame of mind to save par costing me added strokes, some short game shots had a similar outcome promoting downer level of confidence. I am fortunate to come this far in the tour and have the skills and mental ability to change my attitude to any unpleasant situation so it does not destroy my spirit. That last line you just read came from the word of Napoleon Hill himself as I listen religiously to “Think and Grow Rich” his book on audio, while driving in the car during the longer hauls of travel. I am grateful to the economic philosophy expressed in those pages because it gave me the urgency to have self-discipline and use the god given power of thought.      

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I MADE THE CUT AT ARROWHEAD

               Not a one day event either, making a cut in what the tour considers a major championship, more points are awarded during this type of event. I have to mention that in all my career playing tournament golf I have never putted this well before in two consecutive days. My putting stroke feels free fundamentally allowing me to trust my chosen line. Majority of putts made are credited to my ability to have a good imagination but when strategy comes to play for harder breaking putts Josh and I will come to a consensus by observing fellow players reactions to putts missed or made and seeing the line best suited for the putt.

               I have valid questions though? Usually during a round that need answering, like the need for newer fitted equipment? Because, my strengthened swing matured as my tour schedule progressed. I naturally feel uneasy before I approach a long par three in hopes of hitting a solid shot, sometimes constantly worrying about my intended ball flight. Sure, I can work around it by playing to the weak image of me hoping for the best, or I can swing in great tempo with utter confidence like the rest of my game (putting, short game, Wood and Driver). Mid iron’s play level of confidence from the start of my tour this season has always been questionable. In my experience as a tour player I know in fact the benefits of newer fitted technology alongside an experienced coach will take me to higher levels.

               Measuring myself to these players in physical, emotional and mental attributes it is easy to compare what strengths I have, to envision myself on the range warming up before tournament tee off I swing each club with the utmost confidence the moment struck epiphany that I can be confidently aggressive on key scoring holes and take advantage of the length I have off the tee. Playing this week at Arrowhead tournament for the first time (and 1^st year) I began strategizing how easy this course can be played when I know what to expect.  

               At the moment there is just me, no sponsors, old equipment (purchased a few newer non-fitted woods), no coach, and no full time caddy. This week I have been fortunate to have Josh Cole of New London, MN volunteer and join me this week. He really has taken a load off my stress levels and I want to add that the last cut I made I had “Kip Knutson” on the bag keeping me calm and allowing me to converse in a manner of expressing my mental images and commitment to each shot regardless of the result good and bad.

               I am one to be proud of this accomplishment as I set out to do the same routine as before and come out making the cut, if by chance finishing higher in the field at the end of the three day event. Making the cut allows room to set new short term goals in playing better for that day. My daily routine before tee-off does not change, my mentality is constant, my lessons of perseverance is staying patient in order to win at obtaining goals.

               Making this tournament cut could not be possible without help and relationship of Josh. We travelled out to Rapid City Monday August 5^th and played two practice rounds; I played and Josh was more eager to take notes. As he and I had many questions about a course we have never seen before, our detailed notes in Josh’s little black book is the work of two experienced players of the game collaborating a good strategy based on our observation of how the putts would roll and to which direction. We found out during both rounds the three dominant factors that will affect the amount of breaks in the putts.

                              Ultimately our goal is to play great golf on any given day, by doing so we build on the experience for the next round. Tee to green strategy is having the right club selection for the intended shot and managing your misses well to make birdies or save par. Aggressive play all the time hardly pays off and effects the mindset long term. As a team our attainable goal has been met this week by making the cut, now we have to keep doing what works to strengthen our mindset.      

               My goals are to make more cuts and search for cultivating a winning mindset leading to always being prepared to play in the same manner as the champions or top ten leaders on tour. I feel some days that statistically it takes only half a stroke in making the cut too winning on tour. The gap between is learning to deal with the emotional balance of everyday life.

Breaking through, leaning on confidence, building a healthy tournament mindset.

             Emerald hills golf course is located in Arnolds Park IA, near lake Okoboji, an impressive lake resort community. Head Professional Randy Rohlfsen, has always treated me with respect and enthusiasm as I have been a part of playing this wonderful event for several years now. Like the San Juan Open I get to enjoy competing on a great course while meeting new faces and kind members. Making face as a professional compliments what it means to be on tour, because without them (host event Sponsors and Amateurs) There is no us. My gratitude to play on the Dakotas Tour is the feeling I get from special events like this one.

            I make more birdies on par four’s than I do on par five’s it seems, maybe cause it feels that much better to capitalize on good shots and great putts. This week’s Emerald hills Camp-Foster Pro-am was one to remember after a good solid round of shooting 69 (click for Scorecard). The day was a mixture of fortuitous bounces and managing disaster after tough breaks throughout the round. Wednesday morning July 10^th 2013, I teed off on hole number one and played effortlessly making four birdies until I hit an overhanging tree off the tee on hole number seven. Despite managing a bogey from a poor tee shot I had seen where I unconsciously made the mistake. Hole seven’s tee shot forces a fade off the tee to be able to leave a direct shot to an uphill approach to the green, for the shorter hitters it could pose as a challenging long par four. As my confidence in ball striking has been high, I re-thought my decision to “leave the three wood in the bag and opt for the five wood (19⁰ hybrid), haven already taken the head cover off the three wood and choosing my line of sight, my mistake was not realigning my target accommodating the higher trajectory thus clipping the overhanging branch and falling straight down on the forward tee box: I must point out that I did land in front of the red tee marker’s for those of you who think I should have dropped my trousers.

            Four well managed shots later I made bogey and gave myself a look at a decent ten footer to save par. Mentally, when discussing with my caddy – Kip Knutson, the line I had instinctively chosen was the correct one and my will of wanting to save par cause me to second guess my read in the break. The break from the other side of the hole I somehow saw I a slight double breaker from that distance of 10’ having an uphill put. This course has no trick to its greens and there is no dominant break towards a river like the courses in Durango, CO. or the San Juan Open, Either way I managed my efforts to not over react and be presently aware of what I had accomplished from tee to green. 

            Holes eight through hole eleven I notice my emotional state was leaning towards nervousness and questioning my ability to finish this already great round. My swing wasn’t the issue nor was any other part of my physical game. How could it I had the help and good company of a caddy conversing about this great day of golf and how we both enjoyed watching and playing good golf. As a golfer, Kip considers himself around a 12-handicap on most courses, he enjoys the thought process of the game and learns by habitual observation. He had his fill that day knowing his excitement in learning I was pleased to have him by my side. Kip know enough about me and my level of confidence as a professional player that expressing my thoughts about the last bogey on hole eleven was a mere result of miscalculation of club selection, given our location on this downwind par three playing slightly downhill at 163 yards to the pin. Pulling 8-iron out of the bag I landed the ball 164 yards over the flagstick ending up one pace off the green. The number to the front of the green had been about 154 yards (typically an 8-iron distance for me) and ten paces to the pin location tucked in back left corner of the green. Like most shots this entire round my ball striking was predictable in slightly pulling my mid-irons a few yard left of my intended target, I did that with my 8-iron over the flagstick when I realized a comfortable 9-iron would have done the job like it did on my approach on hole seven from the same distance and wind direction. Allowing me to discuss this fact of miscalculation and affirmed my belief as a result together we moved on to the next hole, par five 12^th hole. 

            Internally, with the help of self-affirmation I need to process why I felt nervous during those last four holes and if I continued believing in my nervous behavior I would end up reacting instead of playing golf with fluidity, “trust in hitting a good tee shot, trust in hitting a good approach and believe in your ability of being a great putter.” I remember rehearsing this at Bakker Crossing that past Sunday second round striving to make the cut, my energies from posting a under par back nine that day helped me today at Emerald hills making one more birdie, saving par on another failed approach on the par last par five -16^th and coming to the eighteenth green having to two putt from the fairway fringe and hopefully save my par.

            I worked my way back to four under par as I stared down that 6 footer for par on eighteen. I read an obvious left to right break and proceeded to miss on the lower side of the hole. Now, I could go into micromanagement mode and detail why I missed this putt for par and lose out on about three hundred bucks in earnings not to mention tour bonus points. Overall I learned that under pressure when finishing the round the process of a strong mindset is the result of an organized practice regimen. I could always go back and adopt a few more disciplinary actions to strengthen my putting routine; I know this will comfort my state of mind over a similar putt, and possibly for the win.

            Always building trust in what I do to play better golf is the goal and learning constructively from my mistakes and errors. This is what I have done here today and hope to continue the process as I play on to my next three day event in Aberdeen SD – Moccasin Creek Western Printing Pro-Am July 19^th – 21^st, wish me luck everyone.           

The Western-Printing Pro-am picture of the Moccasin Creek golf course

@ Moccasin Creek this weeks golf event on the Dakotas Tour ~ The Western-Printing Pro-am ~

keep an eye out for the notes I will be posting about this tournament.

San Juan Open two days of prep June 2013

6/17/13

            Playing last week in Durango, CO brought out every aspect of good play in me, sure I made mistakes along the way and my scores on paper doesn't show the real pressure and mental discipline it takes to play each shot one at a time. The difference between a practice round and a tournament round is the process of a single shot; from beginning to end and the flow of the game in between. To simplify this process is to think of all the principals that make up each part: the planning, pre-shot, action, and post-shot. Over the years to keep an even temper by not showing the frustration is valuing each component particularly the “post-shot” routine.

            A tournament round mindset consists of this process that has built character and kept my motivation positive and always looking forward. Attitude about being a low-level professional golfer is the dream of making the journey to the PGA Tour.

            The San Juan Open is only a few days away and I have plenty of trusted knowledge of what makes up this course. Eric Lien, my housing sponsor, had taken me around the course to refresh my memory and pointed out some tee box changes to lengthen the course.

Hole One is no longer a par five it’s a long par 4.

Hole Five has a tee box back left more behind the fourth green, it actually gives you a better angle for the tee shot to the corner.

Hole Seven (#1 handicap) is now a par five and the tee box is stretched all the way back by the driving range.

Hole Nine’s tee box is about one club further, I welcome this change because I take the risky driver out of play and will most likely use a five wood (19 degree hybrid) to the corner and if the wind blows harder the most I plan on using is the three wood.

Hole Fourteen has an extreme longer back tee box that has a total blind tee shot. It does make this particular par five more challenging than previous years. The least club I should have in the hole is an 8 iron versus a “inside 100yrd” wedge, when you could cut the corner.

According to the local paper and the word around the golf club, Eric, was told Hole Sixteen will become a shorter par 4, tempting the player to go for it off the tee.

Even the game plan doesn't change by much, the targets and tee box position will matter in pre-planning for the next few days. Hole Sixteen is a fun hole and with a good vibe of the distance I carry my driver at this elevation there are three maybe four spots around the green I need to practice shots to certain tougher pin placements.

The rest of the week my goal is to re-evaluate the game plan in its entirety and discipline my thoughts to stay with it during play. Last week at the Navajo Trail Open I varied from a plan that challenged my attitude and I am sure its was the reason for tiring out and really feeling the emotional swings. I would be aware (mainly after the fact) of how aggressive that shot really was.

In previous lessons on about tournament golf its always best to not play so aggressive and play for par and let the birdies happen. I must remember that this course has plenty of opportunities for making birdies but the fact remains I committed to minimize my mistakes at this event. Because 18 birdies and two eagles is plenty under par. I have a stronger game today than I have back in 2008, I am a mature player, sticking to this plan is a functional way to not get ahead of myself.

6/18/13

            This morning I borrowed Eric’s cart to practice a little on the range. My plan today was to just hit a few shots and map the course by refreshing my notes from previous years. Joel, a gentleman at the pro-shop told me nobody is allowed on the course until the morning ladies group goes off; then he invited me to join him for a 10:30 tee time,  I was much obliged to his offer. I thought “well I should take this time to hit a few wedges and just take my time warming up. I had not yet had breakfast as I now planned to get some after the practice session.

            I took my 52 degree out of the bag and began hitting short distance pitches trying to regain the feel of a good grip and slight compression with my shoulders. I wanted to swing as light and easy as possible after having a chiropractor adjust me yesterday’s noon. I enjoy a good adjustment and the feeling I get when I am aware of the perfect alignment of my spine, hips and shoulders. Hitting wedge shots I began a mental chatter of having time to improve by fixing my alignment and posture to become stronger. I took notice that my neck, trapezoids and shoulders tend to tense up the fastest before I need an alignment. I do believe it’s the amount of torque in my swing that applies great pressure on that area.

            The best thing about being a pro golfer you’re always looking to improve and finding that half a stroke edge in your weekly performance. Taking my time on the range was to focus on the alignment and posture; with each swing I begin to feel the physical workout of a good warm-up. I pay attention to the shoulder alignment through impact creating a sensation of muscles contracting with a vibrant feel, like hitting a punching bag and feeling the aftershock in your smaller muscle fibers. Noticing the symmetry of both right and left inner hip flexors feel like they have fired properly allowing me to rotate my core through impact, with balance and good timing. I hit half a pyramid of range balls this way and my swing thoughts and feelings remain of a good 60 yard pitch shot I practice last week at Durango. This way I know I’m on task with the invite of the new “adjustment” to my swing.

            This style of fundamental set-up is not entirely new, familiar sensation from previous events I played and particularly the San Juan Open 2008 is the result of having a Chiropractor on sight, they had setup in a tour bus allowing me to get adjusted almost every day; at that time I really needed it.

            I need to add, before I forget that my posture is stronger because of my hips being level and my lower abdomen is strong enough to keep me from wanting to hyper-extend my lower back. In previous swings I would notice that the lower back relation to my left hip would cause a slight pull with the wedges and mid irons. My focus on a good posture was to have a balanced lower body and feel my lower core not pronating through impact, this kept my shoulders level and the swing thought of a good release felt balanced and aligned.

             A full hour of practice with finishing off with several seven iron shots I feel good about the changes this early in the week and I plan on tapping on the slight fears I have from the transition of the old swing to the new. The hard thing on tour is not having the Chiropractor available and I do my best to yoga each evening and morning to stay flexible in most of my joints. I did get an adjustment last week before played at Durango, but that was in Willmar and I traveled 22 hours to get there and after four rounds and a stressful stay I really needed to be realigned yesterday.

Navajo Trail Open - Durango, CO June 2013

            My spirits are high and being able to be here playing professional golf is a real blessing. I have been patient with the game for twenty years, and it still has lessons to teach me. The Navajo Trail Open is my first official pro event this year. I am motivated by knowing this initial stage has many hidden meanings that are deep down in my soul aware that I have played well in the past at other events and shooting impressive low scores. Getting into that zone mentality is no easy task and I strive to be present on a daily basis when it happens. It is a process of picking up the clues left behind while performing under pressure in tournament golf.

            Taking inventory of my game, seeing the weakness of my putting and conflicting thought patterns in my mindset; and other short game areas, that lack consistent feel and awareness of active imagination, either creative of synthetic in nature.

            Today’s 2:30 group was three other gentlemen and I by the names of Brandon, Dustin, and Bobby. To sum up how our day went, we all left out a lot of birdies out there and some of us struggled to make par on certain key holes. This round tested my ability to recognize my attitude during play and did my best to flood my thoughts with positive self-talk. Not corny self-talk either, I know I have greatness in me, my ball striking proved this by allowing me to transition my thoughts comfortably into target golf.

            Brandon, a PGA of America affiliated pro, had a fundamentally sound swing that I observed most of the round. I used to observe the same caliber of players out on the Minor-League-Tour in Florida; back then I was okay with shooting high 80’s while I enjoying competing against Nationwide Tour players practicing for the off season. Brandon’s swing and overall game brought back key ideas that made sense in simplifying the game when playing under pressure.

            To develop a strong mindset you have to learn to be aware of who you are, what your game type is, and how you can transition your thought process effectively during a round. There are always going to be areas of the game that needs improvement, as long as I can keep up the pace of a good practice session during the season, I am only going to get stronger as a player.

1. The key swing thoughts that I took from Brandon’s game:
2. Setup and address, easy, balanced and routine.
3. This /\ made sense for the tee shots as I knew a lot of my strong set up.
4. I just needed to piece the routine together by watching Brandon’s pre shot routine
5. I observed a strong balanced setup and tighter, more compacted backswing.

·       At a certain frontal angle I could see Brandon compress the ball through impact because of his unwinding of his body coil.

            This observation made sense to me, it’s like I was watching it on TV and I would get that feeling of what I had been working on in my swing while watching a PGA Tour event in my living room. Hyper observation allowed me to trust my swing for the last few holes as I continued to strike the ball with a better level of attitude.

            A familiar sense of playing with this swing before during a good round was enough to trust my ability to move in this direction, swinging with the intent of getting better. I will have to let the persistence take care of it in the end. Feeling free’er with each shot is a matter of making every shot just as important as the last one.

Back on Tour Season 2013

First off I want to thank those who had taken interest in Jon Beaver Golf Pro by searching my name using Google or some other search engine platform.

I have met many people after I had graduated from college and picked up my clubs full-time for touring golf as a professional. This is my job now and I wish to inform some and educate others the life and trial of a developing touring pro.

Marketing & Sales Degree along with my promotions class had me start this Blog and I had full intent on coming back to use this as a medium for most (if not all) my notes on the weekly experiences on tour. I plan on having at least one blog post a month but I will strive to have two or more in hopes I have plenty on my mind about tournament golf.

I have created a Facebook page - Jon Beaver GolfPro - your welcome to friend me and connect with the real-time updates on where I am playing how the daily "fun" is coming along... oh I mean tour golf. Twitter (JonBeaverGolfPr) is also a great tool to have when I get the chance; microblogging has its perks and the end user (you) have the option to follow relevant material.

Please leave any constructive feedback on Jon Beaver Golf Professional digital connectivity platforms, I invite and welcome all who has input about this game of golf and its value we all share and hold close to our hearts.

Marsi-Cho (Cree translation - Thank You Very Much)
Jon Beaver Golf Pro.